alyschneider

A very close friend to my family just passed away. We got the phone call a few minutes ago from his nephew. He had a brain tumor and we were planning to visit him within the next two weekends in North Carolina. We won't have that chance now.

Death really makes you take a look at your own life. I take so much for granted, and I know I shouldn't.

This poem is dedicated to Dick Pilder. He will be forever loved and missed.

Birth is a beginning
and death a destination
And life is a journey:
From childhood to maturity
and youth to age;
From innocence to awareness
and ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to desecration
and then perhaps to wisdom.
From weakness to strength or
from strength to weakness
and often back again;
From health to sickness
and we pray to health again.
From offense to forgiveness
from loneliness to love
from joy to gratitude
from pain to compassion
from grief to understanding
from fear to faith.
From defeat to defeat to defeat
until looking backwards or ahead
We see that victory lies not
at some high point along the way
but in having made the journey
step by step
a sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning
and death a destination
And life is a journey;
A sacred journey to life everlasting.

May you forever rest in peace.